Off the charts

Apparently hooking up with a Cleveland team does more damage to a reputation than hooking up with Kevin Federline. The stink of Cleveland sports has already attached itself to Indians third base prospect Andy Marte, even though he hasn't made it to town yet. Baseball America just released its annual Top 100 prospects list, and guess who has dropped out of the Top 10? That's right, our newest acquisition.

Last year, Marte ranked ninth in BA's poll. Then he was traded from the Braves to the Red Sox. Then he was traded from the Red Sox to the Indians. Then he moved down the charts quicker than PopoZao. Marte comes in at 14th this year.

And it's not just Marte. Adam Miller, ranked by BA as the Indians top prospect both last year and this year, dropped from 16th to 47th. Michael Aubrey went from 41st to off the list. We can only wonder what fate awaits Jeremy Sowers and Brad Snyder, who cracked the Top 100 this year.

Cleveland sports teams have become the equivilent of that smoky bar where you just want to get a beer. No matter how hard you try, you can't avoid smelling like a cigarette when you come out. God knows this, and Baseball America has figured it out, too.